lotter



Jan. 9, 1934. A. G. LOTTER 1,942,715

LOOSE LEAF BINDER APPLIANCE Filed Feb. 15, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet l- FIQ J-Aim ELM/5P 3 9/ 2/ BY :4.

A T TORNEY Jan. 9, 1934. G LOTTER 1,942,716

r A rronwsr Patented Jan. 9, 1934 UNITED STATES LOOSE-LEAF BINDERAPPLIANCE Adolph G. Lotter, Milwaukee, Wis., assignor to StationersLoose Leaf (30., Milwaukee, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin ApplicationFebruary 15, 1932. Serial No. 592,959

3 Claims.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in looseleaf binder appliances and refers more particularly to equipment used inconnection with machine bookkeeping.

In bookkeeping systems of this character, the sheets are held in a looseleaf binder such as illustrated in Patent No. 1,574,992, dated March 2,1926, issued to Henry C. Miller, and the data is so placed on each sheetthat the edge opposite the binder back form the top of the sheet.Consequently the binder must be placed in a position resting on its backwith its covers upright, to permit inspection of the subject matter onthe sheets and to facilitate insertion and removal of the sheets duringuse. I

Heretofore it has been customary to provide brackets securable to thecovers of the binder to provide rests for supporting them in theirdesired open position. These brackets were more or less rigidly securedto the covers and their attachment and removal therefrom was bothersomeand often difficult, and as it is desirable to drop the front cover whenchecking the data on the different sheets, this manner of supporting thecovers was objectionable and greatly hindered the operator. 7

With this and other objections to existing types of cover rests formachine bookkeeping ledgers or loose leaf binders in mind, thisinvention has as one of its objects the provision of a novel supportingstand which is entirely independent of the binder and on which thebinder may be quickly placed and removed.

Another object of this invention resides in the provision of a novelstand for loose leaf binders of the character described in which one ofthe cover supports may be quickly folded down to permit the cover to belowered.

And a further object of this invention resides in the provision of meansfor holding the book against tipping when the front cover support islowered and the greater portion of the weight of the book is to thefront.

With the above and other objects in view which will appear as thedescription proceeds, this invention resides in the novel construction,combination and arrangement of parts substantially as hereinafterdescribed and more particularly defined by the appended claims, it beingunderstood that such changes in the precise embodiment of thehereindisclosed invention may be made as come Within the scope of theclaims.

In the accompanying drawings, one complete example of the physicalembodiment of this invention is illustrated constructed according to thebest mode so far devised for the practical application of the principlesthereof, and in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a loose leaf binder stand embodyingthis invention; 9

Figure 2 is a view of the stand in end elevation with a loose leafbinder placed thereon and illus trating in dotted lines the manner inwhich the support for one of the covers folds down;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary bottom view in perspective of a portion of thestand; and

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a portion of the folding coversupport.

Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawings in whichlike-numerals indicate like parts throughout the several'views, thenumeral 5 represents a base consisting of two members 6 and 7 securedtogether at their medial portions and at substantially right angles toeach other.

At the end portions of the member 7,which is preferably channel shapedin cross section, and at the ends of the member 6, are supporting feetor pads 8 and 9 respectively. The top surface of the member 6 is coveredwith fibre or other similar material 10 so'as not to-mar the back 11 ofa loose leaf binder placed thereon, as illustrated in Figure 2.

The binder back 11 consists of two complementary sections 12 which carrysuitable impaling bars to removably hold a stack of sheets 13 there- 35in and also have suitable tensioning mechanism, not shown, for drawingthe sections together to clamp the sheets therebetween. Inasmuch as thedetail construction of the binder forms no part of the invention and maybe ascertained by reference to the aforementioned Patent No, 1,5'74,992issued to Henry C. Miller, it is not shown.

The length of the base member 6 is slightly greater than the overalllength of the binder back and the ends thereof are directed upwardly asat 95, 14 and. 15. The upper edge of the end 14 is bent inwardly to forma ledge and the'upper'edge of the end 15 is flared outwardly as at 17.It is thus possible to hook one end of the binder cover under the ledge16. l

The covers 18 of the binder which are hingedly connected with the binderback are adapted to be supported in an upright partially open positionas illustrated in Figure 2 by two supporting arms 19 and 20 carried bythe opposite end portions of the base member 7. The supporting arm 19comprises a horizontal attaching flange 21 from which the arm properextends vertically for a short distance as at 22 and then at an incline.

The attaching flange 21 of the arm 19 has a .2 .0

loo

plate 24 fixed thereto to increase its thickness and has a rivet 25depending from its lower surface with the head of the rivet spaced fromthe bottom of the attaching flange. A screw 26, the head of which issimilar in size to that of the rivet, is threadedly engaged with theattaching flange and both the rivet and screw are engageable with keyhole slots 27 formed in the base member '7.

There are three key hole slots 27 in each end portion of the member '7,so that the supporting arm 19 may be attached in either of twopositions.

The manner of engaging the rivet and screw 26 in the key hole slots tosecure the arm in position is obvious, and after the engagement has beeneffected, the screw 26 may be drawn tight to lock the arm 19 inposition.

The supporting arm 20 is similar to the arm 19 with the exception thatit consists of outer and inner sections 28 and 29 respectively hingedlyconnected as at 30. The inner section 29 like the supporting arm 19 hasan attaching flange 31 which also has a plate 32 fixed to its uppersurface and carries a depending rivet 33 and a screw 34 for engagementwith the key hole slots 27. The inner section 29 is thus securable tothe base in the same manner as the supporting arm 19.

The upstanding portion of the section 29, however, is not vertical, butis inclined at an angle thereto so that when the outer section 28 is inposition forming a continuation thereof, it is disposed at its properangle. A holding sleeve 35 is slidably mounted on the sections 28 and29, for movement to and from a position extending across the jointbetween the inner and outer sections as illustrated in Figure 1 torigidly hold the outer section in its position forming a continuation ofthe upstanding flange of the inner section.

When it is desired to lower the front cover of the binder as illustratedin dotted lines in Figure 2, the slidably mounted sleeve is merelyraised above the joint between the two sections whereupon the outersection may be dropped as will be readily apparent. To return the sleeveto its normal holding position it is only necessary to elevate the endof the other section, the sleeve falling by gravity to its operativeposition. As best illustrated in Figure 3, the base memher 7 isreinforced at its end portions adjacent the key hole slots by plates 36spot welded or otherwise fixed to the undersurface of the base member.These plates have elongated openings 37 and 38 of sufiicient size toaccommodate the heads of the rivets and screws.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art towhich an invention of the character described appertains, that thisinvention greatly facilitates work on ledgers or loose leaf binders usedin machine bookkeeping, and that it entirely eliminates theobjectionable necessity for forcibly applying or removing one of thesupporting brackets whenever it is desired to lower one of the covers tofacilitate inspection of the book contents, and it is also apparent thatby reason of the interlocking engagement of the overhanging ledge 16 onthe base member 6 with the back of the binder tipping of the binder whenthe front cover is lowered is entirely avoided.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. A book stand of the character described comprising, a base having anelement adapted to receive the back of a book and a member extendingtransversely of said element, means on said base element adapted forengagement over a portion of the back of the book, and uprightsupporting arms carried by the transverse base member to support thecovers of the book in an inclined partially open position, one of saidsupporting arms being movable to a lowered position to permit the coversupported thereby to be completely opened, and said engagement of thebase carried means with the book back holding the same against tippingwhen said cover is fully open.

2. A book stand of the character described comprising, a base having amember adapted to receive the back of a book, upright arms forsupporting the covers of the book in an inclined partially openposition, means connecting said arms with the base, one of said armsbeing movable to a lowered position to enable the cover supported by itto be moved to substantially a fully open position, and means carried bythe back-engaging part of the base and overlying a portion of the bookback to hold the book against tipping when said cover is fully open.

3. A book stand of the character described, comprising a base consistingof two crossed members, means at the extremities of said members toafford supporting feet, means on one of said members to engage the backof a book and hold the same against shifting with respect to said base,and upright supporting arms carried by the other of said members atopposite sides of said first named member, one of said supporting armsbeing rigid and the other supporting arm comprising an inner sectionrigidly attached to the base member and an outer section hingedlyconnected to the inner section so as to permit movement thereof to andfrom an upright position, and a sliding sleeve partially embracing saidinner and outer sections adjacent their hinged connection to hold theouter section in an upright position, said sleeve being movable out ofengagement with the inner section to enable the outer section to belowered and being automatically movable to its operative position uponraising of said outer section.

ADOLPH G. LOTTER.

